2021 AFL Season Preview
Season 2021 looks to be one of the best seasons yet. All teams out of the bubble, crowds back at the footy which is just unreal as we look at Europe and America and there are no crowds at any of their sporting events. The Season looks pretty straight forward with four stand out teams in the Tigers, Cats, Eagles and Power then there are 7 teams that in my eyes that will contest the 8 in the Giants, Lions, Saints, Dogs, Bombers, Pies and the Hawks. The spoon will be fought out between Kangaroos, Melbourne, Suns and the Dockers. Those teams are going backwards and won’t be any danger to any side this year that is on the hunt for the top 8. Everyone will throw stones at me for mentioning the Blues, but I look at their list and see if you stop Cripps it is still very easy to beat this side. The Demons are the most backwards side I have ever seen recruiting Majak Daw shows how backwards this side is. A few players to keep an eye on are Fyfe playing more forward for the Dockers and boy will they need him to kick a score for them this year with no real forward. Dusty Martin obvious reasons and the other to keep an eye on is Dangerfield went to the Cats looking for a flag and has fallen at the final hurdle so will be interesting to see how he bounces back from that. My tip for the flag is Richmond, the club has just got it right across the whole of the footy department and if their guns are up and running watch out. BRING ON SEASON 2021
Key Contenders
- Richmond ($4.80) as mentioned in my flag tip they are a quality side who love the pressure that comes with winning footy games. They run hard and they play for each other. I expect them to finish in the top 4 and that will put them well positioned to tackle another flag attack.
- Geelong ($5.50) has recruited well in the off season with the inclusions of Smith, Higgins and Cameron the Cats are throwing everything at season 2021 and a top 4 finish would be a fail. Big plus for the Cats this year is that they are back playing footy in Geelong, it is near impossible to get a win there so that is a big plus.
- West Coast Eagles ($6.50) with 11 games at home it is hard to see the Eagles missing the 8. They really need to pull their finger out this year and have a crack and not drop the easy games like they did last year. Elliott Yeo to come back through the mid-way of the season puts a lot of pressure on Tim Kelly to have a big year. Nic Naitanui dominates most games so if he is on the Eagles will be on.
- Port Adelaide ($7) season 2020 might have been the Power best chance of a flag since 2004. Choked hard in the prelim final vs the Tigers and won’t be easy in season 2021 with a harder draw then last year. Rozee, Butters and Wines look the three most likely to take this team to the promise land so don’t write them off and they looked slick in the preseason games.
Premiership Flag Best Bet
Will be an interesting year but all teams out of the bubble so look for more home ground advantage to come into play this year. I can’t go past Richmond and their quest for hattrick of flags. The way they came back in that finals series to win a flag was very very very gutsy. Played unreal in the Prelim and in the Grand Final when they were down by 21 points at half time. Players like Martin, Cotchin, Prestia, Lynch and Bolton are in the prime of their careers and if they all perform like they did last year they will be very hard to beat in season 2021. The Tigers are currently $4.80 to win.
Best Futures Bet
Josh Kennendy West Coast Eagles leading goal scorer $2.50 every time the Eagles enter the forward line they look for Kennendy. Played half the games last year and was leading goal kicker for the Eagles. Kicked 8 vs the Pies during the home and away season. Good futures get on now!
Wooden Spoon
North Melbourne Kangaroos if they win more than 5 games, I will eat my hat. They have recruited in a panic and look more like a VFL side then an AFL side. Will struggle to win games this year as they still have a very young list. They are currently $1.87 for less then 4.5 games to win this year I would be jumping on that asap.
